Statement of Erin Tañada, Partido Liberal vice president for external affairs, on the minority fight at the House of Representatives

With Rep. Danilo Suarez’s tight grip on the post of Minority Leader, the entire House of Representatives is tarnished anew with the image of being fake, subservient, and uncritical.

Instead of a vibrant and deliberative chamber, we will continue to have a mutual admiration club.

Despite this development, we, the Liberal Party members and our allies, will function as the real opposition bloc that is responsible and representative, carrying the voice of the people in issues such as the rising prices of commodities, extra-judicial killings, and unjust taxes.

And, as jurisprudence on the matter of electing the minority leader is on our side, with an earlier Supreme Court ruling, we will consolidate our thoughts in deciding about bringing this matter before the courts.